I would be grateful for your recommendations for people, galleries,
suppliers, concerned with jewelry and fine metalwork generally in
Phoenix and Tucson where my wife and I will be visiting in April.
She'll be busy at painting school. I've got a week or two to just
poke around.

I am not usually excited by terribly precious things like gold,
diamonds, platinum conventional jewelry. (Though I admire good
craftsmanship in any form) Nor very excited by bronze cowboy and
indian sculpture, But I do love (forgive me) "art" metalwork and
jewelry, silver, copper, brass, iron, natural textures and objects
- imaginative and inspiring examples thereof. Jewelry, sculpture,
functional objects, any scale acceptable. I hope that is a vague
enough description of my tastes to produce a wide range of

responses.

I guess another way of putting it is - What can I see there which
I'd be sorry to learn that I had missed if you didn't tell me about
it? Any exciting open working studios or metal work schools?
Museums, galleries, folks who like to kibbitz?

And while we're at this - any good friendly B & B' s in Tucson? $
or even $$ OK, but definitely not $$$$!

In Tucson check out Obsidian Gallery. They have a good collection ofobjects-- jewelry, sculpture, ceramics, glass, etc. Shameless selfpromotion: I'm having a show of new work there as I write this. Ithink that the show is up through 4/23.

Tucson is a great town. When you're not into galleries, go for a hikein San Sabino Canyon or go to the Desert Museum-- its a lot of funand very interesting. Ken's Tools sometimes has some good deals onused and new tools, from jewelry tools to outboard motors. It's funto poke around there. There's also a great swap meet-- flea market onweekends. I'm headed off from Seattle bright and early Fridaymorning to teach a workshop. Hope I have time for the swap meet.

The Sonoran Desert is just bursting with gorgeous flowers right now,and the cactus start up in April. You'll be agog!

For your stated viewing pleasures, I would recommend getting on downto Tubac (south of Tucson, on I-19 on the way to Nogales, Mexico).Lots of really accessible, great galleries and studios - includinginteresting metalworking artists. If you email me offlist with youraddress I'll mail you the Tubac Villager publication - lots of goodsuggestions. Don't miss the Renee Taylor Gallery on Plaza Road!(insert: shameless self-promotion here)

In Tucson Starr Gems is THE best supply/info place for metalsmithsand lapidaries. They have really really nice turquoise and othernative rock cabs, and the staff is super nice and knowledgeable. Besure to introduce yourself to Orchid members Marybeth and Shawna.

In Tucson folks always recommend Obsidian Gallery in St PhillipsPlaza (Campbell Ave and River Road) for wearable art jewelry. I go infor inspiration and when I feel like being abused by snottysalespeople. Honestly, I don't know how they've gotten theirreputation, but it's horrible - it's not like I don't clean up well,but unless you drive a Lexus SUV and carry Handbags with Labels thatMatch Your Shoes I guess they don't care to speak to you (maybe it'sthat my cowboy boots always match my belt but not my handbag?)

Head on out to the Mark Sublette Gallery on Tanque Verde Road atSabino Canyon Rd - fantastic Native American jewelry well worthseeing, including old old old stuff and inspiring new stuff. But themetal sculpture is fabulous (Mark Rossi has magic hands), and thepaintings are - to die for. Tucson dealer for Paul Nisbet's paintings- OMG - you have to see them. In the tradition of Thomas Moran.

And finally (maybe more later!) even though you said gold/gems isn'tquite to your taste, don't miss the Abbot Taylor Gallery at Wilmotand Broadway. Abbot is an original Tucson hippy who made it big withfantastic jewelry. The store is so friendly and accessible - I wasbrowsing looking at an amazing diamond and pink quartz drusy necklacewhen the friendly saleswoman swiftly opened the case, pulled out thispiece and handed it to me and urged me to try it on -- all $30,000worth!! (the polar opposite of Obsidian Gallery where they won't evengive me the time of day to look at a $200 Thomas Mann productionpiece)

Well, I DO have to work now. Feel free to contact offline, and mywebsite has a page for visitors:

We stayed at the Jeremiah Inn (B&B) several years ago - 2001, I thinkit was - and it was lovely. It's in the foothills, and very quiet andserene. Breakfasts were beautifully done (and tasty!), and the hostswere quite gracious.

April is a GREAT time to visit - as Roseanne said, the desertwildflowers are gorgeous. We've had more than our usual spring rainsand the plant life shows it - the desert is GREEN!

With the exception of some of the snootier places in Scottsdale,most of us Arizonians will chat with visitors about just aboutanything.

Galleries of all kinds are in abundance in Scottsdale, especially inthe area near the Art Center or off 5th Avenue in Scottsdale. If youwant to see Southwestern jewelry - Ortega's in Scottsdale is theplace.

In downtown Phoenix, there is the Heard Museum for Native Americanbaskets, weaving and jewelry, as well as the Phoenix Art Museum -both on Central Avenue. There is a Mining and Mineral Museum just afew blocks from the Capitol. If you are interested in Native Americanhistory, there is Pueblo Grande Museum, which is a museum/workingarchaeology dig.

If you are adventurous and want to get further from the Phoenixmetroplex, there is the Mesa Art Center and the Mesa SouthwestMuseum. MSM is one of the finest natural history museums in the West- specimens of gems and minerals from the area, as well as a "cave"with examples of different stalagmite/stalactite formations,meteorites, dinosaurs and other "paleo-critters" such as mammoths andmastodons, as well as exhibits on the Hohokam and Anasazi Indians whowere among the earliest inhabitants of the area.

Even further east, you will encounter the small town of ApacheJunction, home of the Superstition Mountains and the legend of theLost Dutchman's Gold. The "ghost town" of Goldfield has tours whichgo underground into the old gold workings. There is also aSuperstition Mountain Museum with history of the area.

Going North from the Phoenix metroplex, you will find the art"colony" of Sedona. Galleries of all kinds to suit any taste. A mustsee for most "artsy" people is Tlaquepaque (T-lawk-ie-pawk-ie) -loads of galleries there, too. If your travels and "poking around"take you north, you could visit the town of Prescott - at one timethe Territorial Capital of Arizona - home to the famous Earps beforetheir fateful move to Tombstone. There are a number of gallerieslocated around town - especially near the courthouse square.

A must see for anyone coming to Arizona is the Grand Canyon! It isarguably the biggest "work of Art" on the planet! Depending on thetime of day and the day of the year, the lighting changes the colorsand shapes - an everchanging work of Art! I would recommend spendinga couple of days there. There are even a couple of galleries in thearea- though mostly of the touristy kind!

Of course, if you have any extra time, you are always welcome tovisit us at our VERY humble shop in east Mesa. (not an advertisement,just an offer of a cup of coffee or a cold soda and a little chat).

Contact me or my husband Mike off the list for any furtherMy addy is @Deb_Weller and Mike's ismwweller@davisp.com.

If you are going to be in Scottsdale drop by Metals Edge Studio. Weare a jewelry, metal arts and glass school. We are just south of theScottsdale arts district. Also French's Designer Jewelry has verybeautiful things.

We're here in Tucson with some Native American jewelry we're tryingto move out. If you are looking for great deals on metal/lapidarymachinery and supplies, we are liquidating our shop. Contact us offline if you are interested and I can give you more details.